The world of GenAI is in a gold rush, and everyone’s trying to get in on the action! But before you build your team, there’s more to it than just picking the coolest techies. Here’s a breakdown to get you started:
GenAI Skills 101:
- Forget years of experience – GenAI is new, so focus on the right skills, not how long someone’s been doing it. Many of the new genAI tools have less than 3 years of life. Remember, ChatGPT released to the public November 2022.
- Tech is awesome, but there’s more much more! You’ll need people who can think creatively and solve problems too. In addition, people that will help and manage adoption to the entire organization or team.
Building Your Team: Step 1 – Discovery
This is like planning a party! You have to figure out what you need before you invite everyone. The zones involved are the Strategic and Operational zones (refer to my article “Challenge Accepted! Now Where do I Begin with GenAI?” for more details) with a focus on:
Strategic Zone:
- Budgeting: How much money do you have for people and tech stuff (cloud compute, storage, model creation, etc.)? Tip: If it’s your first GenAI project, set aside some funds for tech expenses. Model creation can get really expensive really fast!
- Product Power: What problem will your GenAI product solve? What will it be good for? Tip: Imagine a game show where everyone throws out ideas. The best one wins! The game show is called Design Thinking.
- Picking Your People: Who needs to be on the team? Here are some key players:
- Tech Approvers: The gatekeepers of new tech. Get them on board early to avoid delays.
- Lawyers: They make sure everything is legal and helps write new rules for using GenAI safely.
- Target Audience/Consumers: If you’re making something for the marketing team, include their leaders. This makes them feel important, included, and increase adoption of the new capability for the team.
Operational Zone:
- Tech Tools: What cool tech toys do you already have that can help build your GenAI project? Tip: Save time by using what you already own!
- Tech Approval Process: How do you get new tech or features approved? Get the right people involved to avoid roadblocks later.
- Permissions Party: Who needs access to what? Make sure everyone has the instructions and things they need to jump right in.
Team Trouble? Don’t Worry!
- Not Enough People? Look outside your company for help.
- Everyone’s Busy? Talk to the Strategic Zone and explain why your GenAI project is important and how it bring value to the organization. They might be able to free up some people.
- Scaredy Cats? Sometimes people are afraid of trying new things. Explain how GenAI can be awesome and help them succeed. This refers to capacity to learn (refer to my article “GenAI Great!. . .Where to Start?”)
Remember: Getting the right people involved early is key! Don’t wait until the project is done to ask for permission to use new tech. That’s a recipe for disaster!
This is just a taste of the Discovery Phase. There’s a lot more to explore! But the most important thing is to get your team together from the start. With the right people on board, your GenAI project will be a blast!
Want to know more? I’m here to help! I love building things with tech that make work easier and more fun. Let’s chat and see how genAI can change the way you work!
